The 2015 final will be held at the Royal Opera House for the first time in the competition's 22-year history on 19 July 2015 and will see the finalists perform with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, conducted by Plácido Domingo. The shortlist of 40 from 20 countries has been whittled down from around 1,000 applicants, and the winner will be crowned by an expert jury of leading opera professionals.

To celebrate the return of The Royal Opera's La traviata — which reached the Cineplex long before the ROH Cinema Season existed in a scene from Pretty Woman — we're offering a pair of tickets to see the production on Monday 25 May 2015.

To enter, simply tell us your favourite example of opera in film and why you love it. You can enter by commenting below, or by tweeting with #OperaFilmComp. Our favourite answer will win the tickets.

Good luck!

Terms and conditions: The competition prize is two tickets to La traviata on 25 May 2015 (evening performance). Closing date for entry is midday on 22 May 2015. The winner will be notified on 22 May 2015 and the ROH's decision is final. The prize is non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for another date. The prize constitutes only the tickets. Travel costs, refreshments or any other costs will not be covered. This prize draw is only open to residents of the UK can only be entered by commenting via the ROH website or tweeting with the hashtag #OperaFilmComp.

The competition, now in its sixth year, invites young people aged 11–16 to compose and record their own short piece of music, with winning fanfares played to thousands of audience members attending a performance at the Royal Opera House.

‘Before the workshops we were both very nervous, expecting all the other entrants to be experienced, serious musicians,’ says Sam and Finlay from Kingswood School in Bath. ‘But it’s been a lot different to what we expected and actually just really fun.’

The compositions will be orchestrated and recorded by the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House in April, before being played to the Covent Garden audience for the first time at a Royal Ballet performance on 30 May.

‘It’s an incredible thing to conduct a group of professionals playing a piece of music that you came up with one day in a music lesson at school,’ says Charlotte Wilson from Stoneygate School in Leicester. ‘To think that my fanfare will not only be played by one of the biggest orchestras in the UK, but to thousands of people attending a performance at this amazing venue, is just insane!’

For the full list of winners and to listen to their original entry recordings, visit our Fanfare page.

Thank you to everyone who took part in this year’s Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation Grand Draw. Almost 3,000 people bought at least one ticket or made a donation, helping us raise over £65,000. This vital income will help us continue to present extraordinary performances, remarkable craftsmanship and inspiring learning and participation projects. Every £2 ticket bought could provide four pieces of chalk or hook and eye fastenings or 200 safety pins for the Costume Department to use in one of our outstanding productions.

We are also very grateful to the many companies who donated prizes for the Grand Draw. This year’s winners and prizes are as follows:

1st prize: A two-night stay for two people in a stunning penthouse at the Corinthia Hotel London along with dinner in the Royal Retiring Room and Royal Box tickets to The Royal Opera’s Madama Butterfly on Saturday 28th March for up to four guests: won by Miss Elizabeth Crowther OBE

2nd prize: Two nights at The Savoy with tickets to The Royal Ballet’s Swan Lake on Saturday 21st March in the Donald Gordon Grand Tier: won by Mrs Amanda Myers

3rd prize: European weekend opera break for two including flights, accommodation and Opera tickets. Take your pick between Budapest and Prague: won by Ms Denise Ryan

4th prize: Weekend stay at the Cary Arms, Devon including breakfast and two one-hour Yon-ka prescription spa treatments: won by Ms Mary Stylianou

5th prize: Country retreat at the Old Swan & Minster Mill, the Cotswolds including breakfast, a full day’s fishing and a relaxing massage: won by anonymous

6th prize: One night stay at the Bloomsbury Hotel, London with dinner and breakfast: won by Ms Sonia Suarez

Competition terms and conditions: The 2014 Royal Opera review competition prize is two tickets to Madama Butterfly on 23 March 2015 (evening performance). Closing date for entry is 31 December 2014. The winner will be notified by 6 January 2015. All aspects of the prize are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for another date. Travel or accommodation costs are not included in the prize. This prize draw can only be entered by tweeting with #ROHreview2014 or by commenting on this blog post.

Competition terms and conditions: The 2014 Royal Ballet review competition prize is two tickets to Onegin on 27 January 2015 (evening performance). Closing date for entry is 31 December 2014. The winner will be notified by 6 January 2015. All aspects of the prize are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for another date. Travel or accommodation costs are not included in the prize. This prize draw can only be entered by tweeting with #ROHreview2014 or by commenting on this blog post.

]]>http://www.roh.org.uk/news/royal-ballet-2014-review-what-were-your-highlights-of-the-year/feed48Enter the ROH Grand Draw 2015 for a chance to win a luxury London hotel stay and tickets to the Royal Box at the ROHhttp://www.roh.org.uk/news/enter-the-roh-grand-draw-2015-for-a-chance-to-win-a-luxury-london-hotel-stay-and-tickets-to-the-royal-box-at-the-roh
http://www.roh.org.uk/news/enter-the-roh-grand-draw-2015-for-a-chance-to-win-a-luxury-london-hotel-stay-and-tickets-to-the-royal-box-at-the-roh#commentsThu, 06 Nov 2014 15:57:36 +0000Sacha Glasgow-Smithhttp://www.roh.org.uk/?p=34623Corinthia Hotel London

The Royal Opera House Grand Draw 2015 is now open.

By entering the Grand Draw you will support the work of the Royal Opera House, a registered charity.

This year, 25 fabulous prizes are on offer, including the first prize of a two-night stay for two in a stunning penthouse at the Corinthia Hotel London, along with dinner in the Royal Retiring Room and Royal Box tickets to The Royal Opera’s Madama Butterfly for you and three guests.

The Royal Opera House relies on contributions from our supporters to present extraordinary performances, incredible craftsmanship and inspiring learning and participation projects. Last year the Grand Draw raised almost £65,000 of vital funds.

Buying one ticket for just £2 could pay for a frock coat button in Die Zauberflöte. Buying twelve tickets for £24 could provide 36 pieces of chalk, 2,400 safety pins or 53 hook-and-eye fastenings, enabling the Costume Department to produce stunning costumes for the stage.

To enter, go to our Grand Draw website. You can also email us your details or phone +44 (0)845 601 6936 to receive a book of tickets by post. Make sure you return the tickets to us by the deadline of 21 January 2015 for a chance to win. Good luck!

The prizes:

A two-night stay for two people in a stunning penthouse at the Corinthia Hotel London along with dinner in the Royal Retiring Room and Royal Box tickets to The Royal Opera’sMadama Butterflyon Saturday 28 March for you and three guests

Two nights at The Savoy with tickets to The Royal Ballet’s Swan Lakeon Saturday 21 March in the Donald Gordon Grand Tier

European weekend opera break for two including flights, accommodation and opera tickets. Take your pick between Budapest and Prague

Weekend stay at the Cary Arms, Devon including breakfast and two one-hour Yon-ka prescription spa treatments

Country retreat at the Old Swan & Minster Mill in the Cotswolds, including breakfast, a full day’s fishing and a relaxing massage

Terms and Conditions: The closing date for entries of the 2015 Grand Draw is Wednesday 21 January 2015, with the draw taking place on 28 January 2015. Winners will be informed in February. Entrants must be over 18 and resident in England, Wales or Scotland. No entrants are allowed from Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

The annual competition is one of the most prestigious ballet competitions in the world, attracting the finest young dancers from across the globe. Those entering receive a unique opportunity to work with renowned choreographers and teachers over five days before competing for a range of medals.

This year the competition will be judged by a panel including former Director of The Royal Ballet Monica Mason, and Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet Christopher Hampson.